Persona 5 Analysis [Part 4]: Futaba Breaks Persona 5 // Codex Entry

Ya'll wanted to hear me talk about Futaba and that's what you got. On a related note, Patreon below ❤
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[@CodexEntry]

Hey ya'll, if you enjoyed the video then I'd deeply appreciate it if you considered supporting me on Patreon

[@mhesq2415]

Im so late to the party on this, but i enjoyed this video enough to do exactly that! Here's hoping to seeing more when you can put it out!

[@bruhbruh4329]

Fun fact: in the Japanese version of P5, if you run out of time during Futaba's dungeon, the cops that kick your door down say, explicitly, that she committed suicide.

[@dc_dachi]

That's not a "fun" fact at all.

[@speedm222]

Luckily most of the people who played the game probably got the hang of deadlines by that point, so Atlus probably did this for people how intentionally skipped days to see what happens and make them feel awful as a result

[@FullmetalSonic260]

Jesus Christ, that deeply saddens me.

[@LeonGun8]

Is this a confirmed fact, as in can you provide an actual transcript of what they say, because I've seen so much bullshit about changes which weren't actually changed at all that it makes me slightly doubtful. An actual fun fact is that Futaba is not the sinner of Sloth, unlike what the translation claims. In the original version none of the Phantom Thief calling cards name a sin. It is Igor who always tells you the sin when he calls you to the Velvet Room after beating the respective dungeon. The sin attached to Futaba's palace is Wrath though I have no idea why. Even in the English version Igor's words hint at the sin of Wrath and the trophy basically calls it the "Palace of Wrath".

[@simonO712]

@@LeonGun8 Futaba's wrath was directed inwards, an expression of her extreme self loathing. At least, that's how I interpret it.

[@pigozs]

I love Futaba's character. It may be because she is really well written, or maybe because I'm in a similar situation so it's easier to relate to. Anyway it's definitely the high point of the game for me.

[@magigackt]

Are you still working on this series? I would love to see your thoughts on the rest of the game.

[@ihbus]

This channel is seriously one of the most underrated channels on video gaming in KZbin. The depth of analysis and thought, the editing, and the charisma/ presentation for each video is amazing, and this especially shines through for a deep game like those in the Persona series. So no, I thank YOU for making these videos.

[@aadarshbalireddy2939]

Seriously. I don't usually find reviews that entertaining, but this whole series has been really engaging

[@necroalx]

25:50 A game about the duality of the human nature pointing out that a once one-dimensional villain could actually be more human than what you originally imagined at first, was a waste of time? Dude I agree with most of your opinions but I sincerely think you missed the point here because of an emotional attachment to your view of the character. That scene was not meant to make Madarame "more respectable". No matter how much you can hate a person, at the end of the day that man or woman was a person. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT in this game. The lesson there was that "People are not the monsters you see but the monsters they allow themselves to become", that's all.

[@epti3539]

I'm glad you brought this up. My initial reaction to this in game was pretty negative, and my response was supported in this video. I think your point is spot on though. It makes me want to revisit my opinions on other aspects of P5 I didn't appriciate

[@petertromp8786]

Persona 5 is a complex work of art and resists easy judgments being made about it. I think it is freeing to accept it as such and to be comfortable with being uncomfortable that the game isn't a "flat out masterpiece".

[@kurtdelarosa6151]

Akechi is 10 billion times the monster that the Palace Rulers are in the story. Only made worse by the fact that Akechi has a Persona.

[@kurtdelarosa6151]

And to Akechi sympathizers: Please don’t pretend to look away from the fact that his murders aren’t done with malice, they are. Cognitive Akechi’s twisted faces are, to me, Akechi’s true face. But none of us can deny that his heavy-handed backstory is nuanced in some way. I wish that he was the main human antagonist and not Shido.

[@necroalx]

@@kurtdelarosa6151 Akechi's character exist only to demonstrate that every single member of the phantom thieves could have been the same as him if they weren't supporting each other or committed enough to their bonds. I mean, Joker's awakening scene was literally all about taking revenge on the world even if it meant to do the unspeakable. Which is exactly what Akechi did. They all were potential villains but chose not to be that, but imagine what should have happened if ryuji and ren were expelled, or if Anne was "taken" by kamoshida, if Yusuke were to find out about his mother AFTER Madarame took his life hood and future away, or if Makoto were to be kidnapped by kaneshiros men for the worst outcome, or if futaba's dead were in the conscience of the thieves and so on. If they weren't caught like in Ren bad end hallucinations, they would've turned into some dangerous criminals, probably worse than Akechi.

[@jrrthompson1996]

For what it's worth, Ann's arc throughout the game is turning her sexuality from something used against her into something she uses against others. The nude model fiasco is probably the worst step in that arc, but it's one of if not the first time she is given sole responsibility for completing a vital function for the group. In the entire sequence, Ann is not only in control, but is persuasive enough to convince Yusuke to go into the locked room and is shrewd enough to call Madarame out on his lie. Ann is thoroughly capable and competent the entire time, and a big part of that infiltration is using her sexuality for her rather than letting it be used against her. Overall, I think that sequence is a net positive for Ann's arc, but it comes at the expense of Yusuke's arc.

[@nicobones9608]

I think you hit the nail on the head, and that's why she's dressed like a dominatrix. Not just for fanservice's sake (though, I'm sure that's part of it too) but also to symbolize this transformation. This is further symbolized in the identity of her persona.

[@ruofanyu6699]

Maybe the confidant arcs don't follow the theme of individual rebellion, but they certainly don't suggest that we can rely on the system to protect us. I'd say it's more a message of how we should help and rely on each other. The PT doesn't exactly represent any sort of societal system and also benefit from the confidants' help in return. I think for some of them, the confidants' growth comes in the realization that rebellion is necessary, and admittance that help is needed for that rebellion doesn't undermine it.

[@FullmetalSonic260]

Futaba's arc was definitely a high point for me, I mean everything that involves her is just top notch and no one can deny that Futaba's palace is one of the better designed ones. Futaba and Sojiro's SL arcs are my favorites in the game and Futaba is easily one of my favorite characters along with Makoto. I guess its just how much her character hits home, despite not being able to relate to every single aspect about her lol. While it's easy to tell that the writing in the game isn't completely flawless, it's nice to get context on why that's the case exactly, another great analysis!

[@devanis]

In defense of the game, I would argue that most confident's arc (those not part of the team) don't end until the end of the game. It's because you inspired them and showed them what someone can do for others even if it means going against the system, they learn to do it for other, and in the end they do it for you, they rebel against the idea that you should be in jail and use every connection they have (official and non official) to get you out. They failed the first time and lucky for them they're were someone like them who helped them out now they get to do the same. It's more hopeful that way I think,

[@GForce4]

I wish more people saw this comment as it does fly in the face of his original point. In fact I will say that the characters do use the strength to rebel on their own as at rank 10, because they figure out the MC is a phantom Thief and double up on their efforts to assist him. They're no longer contacts to the Phantom Thieves but become accomplices where many of them continue to break the rules (ie Takemi handing over medicine not meant for the general public or Iwami eating into his profit margins and giving free labor) to help the Phantom Thieves succeed.

[@GForce4]

In fact adding onto this statement is that becoming accomplices each character willing destroys any argument of plausible deniability. Which becomes a huge risk during the later part of the story when the Phantom Thieves are branded as criminals and the public opinion drops. Not only are they aiding in the rebellion that the Phantom Thieves are fighting, they are also rebelling against the law and public opinion as they are doing what they think is right based off of their own beliefs. If that is not rebellion, I do not know what is

[@azraelmors1997]

So from what I'm understanding, would the game be better if instead of stealing the hearts of the villains, we changed the hearts of their victims? Inciting the fire of rebellion inside them and forcing them to change? The bosses could still be the bad guys, just cognitive versions like in Futaba's Palace. Since they have such a profound effect on those they hurt. And when we change peoples hearts, they take down the villain themselves. For Example: 1st Palace: Shiho/Volleyball Team - Kamoshida 2nd Palace: Yusuke/Art Pupils - Madarame 3rd Palace: Makoto/ Blackmailed Debtors - Kaneshiro 4th Palace Futaba - Futaba (No Change) And so on and so forth.

[@firelink10]

I appreciate your "tough love" approach to these retrospectives so much! At first I was kind of bummed after realizing Persona 5 wasn't the master piece I thought it was in the earlier parts of the game. I felt (for lack of a better word) a bit empty because I didn't know exactly WHY I felt like the weaker points of the game wasn't as enjoyable. Because of you putting into words the flaws involving the questionable writing at times, it gave me a bit of closure that yes the game did have some weak points that really annoyed me but they aren't enough to devalue what the game did incredibly well. Futaba is such an amazingly written character, I went in expecting her to be a memey internet troll but her development is so heartfelt! She blew me away as the best part of the game (even if Yusuke is my biggest guilty pleasure after the mess of his first appearance.) Please keep up the good work! If anything you've made me appreciate the game even more now that I've come to terms with the flaws instead of trying to ignore them. *I'll Face Myself intensifies*

[@petertromp8786]

I think you're hitting the nail on the head here so well. I tried to express something similar in my original comment, but I think you explain it better than I attempted to. For those of us who have been playing video games for decades (more than 3 in my case), I think games were always this safe little artistic haven where you judged its merits and demerits insularly. I love how people like Codex Entry, who have emerged since the mainstreaming of games, (rightfully) analyzes gaming as if its any artistic product. I think because we spend so much time with games like RPGS's - living with them, in essence - the experience becomes so personal that many of us can become afraid to truly analyze it, for fear of ruining the experience we just plumbed 100s of hours into. I think as the games industry matures, we absolutely need this level of analysis so we can all grow as cultural consumers and hopefully get games that ascend to the next level of what the art is actually capable of. There's something immature in wanting a "masterpiece" to be perfect, but there is no such thing as perfect art. If you dive deep enough, there are flaws to be found in even the most hallowed of works. Accepting that actually makes you enjoy the work more, because you're truly engaging with it and acknowledging that it is the product of humans and not of deities, or machines; it's imperfections often imbue it with more charm than its aimed for level of perfection, especially if we have good reason to believe that the creator's intentions are generous and genuine.

[@CodexEntry]

@@petertromp8786 This comment basically sums up why I do what I do here and I'm happy that I seem to be succeeding at that to some degree, thank you for posting it.

[@sofaris576]

That kinda summs up how I feel about my favourite Character Morgana. There is alot not to like about him but most of the time he is so dam likeable and endearing that I still love him. He is maybe not a deep well written Character but he is an awesome lovable companion. That being said the next arc makes no sense and make him appear stupid, a little unlikeable and totally out of Character.

[@petertromp8786]

My pleasure. I'm really looking forward to the rest of your Persona 5 series. Can't wait to see how you sum it all up at the end and to hear how your feelings regarding it changed during the making of these videos. Keep up the great work. You've really made me wanna go back and start that New Game+.

[@Asiis]

@@CodexEntry You being rough with games make all the compliments shine all the brighter. And not looking away from ugly things is part of what person is all about

[@fearyfiremast]

"Which will undoubtedly be soon" six months later...

[@CodexEntry]

Yeah, I'm on your side with this one, what the fuck

[@Jakeneutron]

I do really wish there was a part 5 😭 I never got to hear about Akechi

[@CodexEntry]

Don't worry, you will. Part 5 is written and will be out in the nearish future

[@zlatko8051]

Codex Entry take your time,it’ll all be worth it in the end.

[@rocklobster4942]

You spelled Inkling wrong, what's a Futaba?

[@CodexEntry]

I do now immediately regret not naming this 'An Inkling Breaks Persona 5' The again, the algorithm is god and loves those character names, so whatcha gonna do? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@hangedman1527]

Rarely I watch a vid where I agree so much with what the author is saying. Futaba(e) is half of the reasons why I burned through the game in a week after the release. The best part about her arc is the emotional response it builds - reminds me of P4 Nanako, except Nanako had 80% of the game to make the player grow attached to her, while Futabas arc achieved that in one "chapter" for a lack of better word. So good, damn. So good.

[@kaibrigham4825]

It's been too long since I've watched something on KZbin and thought "I must watch more of this persons videos" I just really want to thank you for your content and as soon as I'm working again I'm definitely getting on that patreon

[@lotus1117]

I just binge watched all the four parts and I loved every minute of it. The efforts and work put into making these is quite commendable. The editing for one is spot on. And the criticism, aside from few minor instances where I disagree with your view points, is still fair, I'd say. All in all, I can't wait for part 5!

[@TheLionsCry]

I really love the amount of detail you put into these videos. I also feel like we're on the same wavelength often! Looking forward to the next part.

[@Lambdadelta77]

I've been waiting for this!

[@SkyeLvl1]

Homerun out of the park once again. I especially liked the analysis of Yusuke's social link - warts and all - with a newfound appreciation for how it ties into motivation, beauty and how a new perspective can be just what someone needs. but yeah, throw salt at whoever wrote his stuff in the madarame arc, jeeeeesus christ

[@n543576]

33:17 onward is just excellent, all of your points made here is so well spoken.

[@firecorgi5718]

The thing about makoto's persona change from a bike to not one I think shows how she doesn't need anything to drive herself forward anymore not even a bike

[@nunothedude]

Ok, damn your videos are so damn good, i always related to the persona series some of the charaters i knew exactly why i related to them, i suffered allot of abuse growing up, abusive parents,, bullying etc, so your explanations and ideas are really great because they allow me to better elaborate why i relate so much, for the longest time i was a shut in, bitter dude who hated the world and only recently i realized i have to figth for myself so my life has been getting better

[@epti3539]

I see how Futaba is loveable and expertly crafted as it compares to the rest of the game, but I don't think her a godsend of writing depth. She is no doubt the best P5 has to offer as it applies to character implementation in the main story. She has the best dungeon and best main story arc in the entire game, in my opinion. Where she falls flat though, to me, is her confidant. I loved listening to her dorky humor, but I couldn't help but think that she was degraded into waifu bait. This all reflects a huge issue I have with how the women in this game are portrayed. Every girl you can romance seems to not need any man- except the protagonist. The issue here is that these girls go against their characterization so that you can be with them. I HATE that choice in this game. I would've loved it so much more if every line you chose correctly not only made them give you more points to rank up, but also gave you a different kind of point that would indicate that what you said made them attracted to you. I would LOVE it if your responses were the deciding factor in if THEY liked YOU. I dislike how you can simply decide to be with them at the end of a confidant as a consolation prize. It undermines the characterization of every female character (except makoto because you defend her as you pretend to be her boyfriend and I think it would make a lot of sense for her to be attracted to you because of that) You can argue that these girls love the protag because he is a noble and suave thief, but I think that P5 loses a wonderful chance to build not only the girl's characters but the protagonist's character by not including stricter consequences for saying the "wrong" thing to people, and deeper rewards for saying the "right" thing Woo, I feel like I stumbled down a rabbit hole here. Good for you if you read this far

[@Emil-Roma]

Man, these are amazing. On the one hand, I´m appreciating one of my favorite games in a different way, while at the same time learning a lot more about it, both good and bad. I really like the connections you make to real-life situations, they make the game (and your essay) feel more, important, I guess you could say. They make you think about the zeitgeist that surrounds us, not just about a specific videogame, why you like it and what makes it "good". It might sound weird, but these analyses are like reading a great writer or philosopher´s interpretation of an artist´s work: it just adds to it while building an incredibly strong argument and interpretation that also stands on its own and reveals the interpreter´s view. It´s a weirdly specific compliment, but it is how I view this series, and your Codex Entry series as a whole. Also, any updates on Pop-Tarts being ravioli and not sandwiches? Do you still cling to your bold, yet flawed conception of them?

[@CodexEntry]

This may literally the nicest comment I've ever gotten. Also Pop Tars are still raviolis but raviolis are also sandwiches

[@Emil-Roma]

Codex Entry It's from the heart, man. I'm really glad I found this channel. Have a great week, Ryan.

[@TheCrazyGreenGamer]

Thank you So much, Ryan! You really gave Futaba's arc and confidant the justice that ir deserved! Futaba is my favorite character in all of fiction right now, honestly! Akira x Futaba is my favorite ship in P5 as well! How about you, Ryan?

[@MetaruMari]

Great video! Looking forward to the next part

[@ScarHydreigon87]

This gave me a brand new perspective on Futaba that I never saw before

[@scissordoerrs]

Like some other people have said, these videos really nail the issues I had with this game but couldn't put into words. Very interested to hear your take on everything that happens in the last 5-ish hours. I always look forward to seeing your content in my sub box - keep up the great work!

[@ultimateshadeofwar]

This is the thing, while you make good points through this 4 videos... A lot of then are very surface level. Madarama is a great example, yes the game is at fault at not showing you the worse victims, but making you search then... The thing is that the victims begin to appear since Kamoshida's palace, along with the victims of Kaneshiro's. From Madarame's palace onwards, the victims of the next bad guy begin to appear on the overworld if you look for then. And if you take your time with the confidants, you realize that the majority of then are the victims of the second biggest target. There is one confidant that fills up the clues for the biggest target. The next ones, the game doesn't show you victims, because they expect that what they say is enough. And that's a flaw because it builds a less powerful connection and people right now in their majority don't have the time, or will to explore the whole hub world after each major story event to see how it changes it. But the thing is that, the antagonist do fit in fleshing out the party member that rebels against then. Madarame represents the abuse of art, Madarame takes what's precious to Yusuke and spits on it, he use it to gain economical power, he uses the talented people of the field of art to gain reputation and by consecuence of this he gains social power. And he wields both of then to benefit only himself, the revelation of Madarame being the one that let Yusuke's mother die, it was unnecesarry, but i think it's more because of what your video about him shows, people miss this point. That's what Yusuke is rebelling against, he is rebelling against those that abuse art, and he shows that deep inside he has the strength to stand up against that, while his confidant, it's about his fear of him being the same as Madarame. Kaneshiro, it's more about the damage that society and it norms can do to people, and Makoto rebelling against that. Remember because he was poor and he was overweighted, he was discriminated by society, this discrimination fill him with anger, and fill his view of helping others as a weakness. He is same and everything that Makoto isn't. Makoto is a victim of society in a different sense, in the sense that she is in a position of power, she is push around both by her family and those around her in a higher position of power. The difference is that she gain the strength to stand up, and fight against this society, and her confidant it's about her seeing someone else being push around as she was, and gaining the determination to stand up for other even if they don't want that. All the other bosses fit this, and Futaba's is the easiest to see, because she is the boss and her confidant, she is the most Persona 4 style of the characters... And that's on purpose, because what she rebels, it's what society made her believe, and because her being her worse enemy makes this the easiest to see. All the other bosses fit this, they are everything that the character presented on that palace aren't, they are the worse of society, or the consequences of this societies actions. The confidants is more about the people that lack the strength to rebel for the majority of the non-party members, because yes, rebellion is something important, but not everyone has the strentgh of will to do it, i know because i need someone else to metaphorically slap me in the face and slowly help me gain confidance about it. And this is the thing, all of the confidants that lack this strength, the moment you ask then the name of the abuser, they put 2 and 2 together very quick, because they know that, they lack the strength to do something about it, because they have already grow accustomed to society working this way, because of their guilt, because it's a family matter, etc. They all lack the strength to rebel, but you don't, so you help then by forcing the abuser down, so that they can begin to grow for the better. That's what the majority of the confidants are about, they are about people how lack the strength to rebel against a system, or have so much to lose, that they don't have the strength to rebel, but we can, because we still aren't completely part of the system, and we still have the determination to change it. The confidants that don't need our help to rebel, they are usually the ones that need push to rebel on their own, with exception of the party members, those are more about either fear of becoming the monster they have rebel against, or gain some kind of strength to help others. Being by learning to use your strength properly, or gaining the determination to help someone on the same situation you were, or they are on the way to that situation.

[@RKNsword]

I have this feeling that you're going to say that p5 doesn't live up to p4 because of how many of the confidants are underdeveloped or that each of their arcs might not tie into the theme. But here's my question: when all is said and done, how much emphasis are you going to give to the bigger picture of this game, zooming out from each individual character or palace arc to the greater story told between them all? Also, regardless of whether certain details don't feed into the overall message, is that going to affect your take on how said overarching narrative compares to that of other personas? Here's my take, and it's undoubtedly less studied than yours--p4 had a lot of beautiful little stories to tell about each one of its characters, but while each individual one might have been heartwarming or compelling on their own, the whole narrative felt empty and meaningless to me. P5 on the other hand moved me to tears because the whole of the game's main narrative acted as this giant allegory of rebellion against a sick society controlled by a matrix. Every detail of the plot or each character subplot didn't have to tie into it consistently. The imagery and core premise for me were convincing enough.

[@CodexEntry]

I'll be going into more depth about the core story in the future, but here's what I'll say right now: I'd agree that the core story of P4 isn't super deep, especially in comparison to the stories around it. However, the reason I am/will be harder on P5's core narrative than P4's is that P5's, for want of a better term, attempts more and, by extension, fails more. P4's core story was there mainly to serve as a framework, to give you some basic motivation to go out and meet the characters who are the game's real focus. Persona 4 is much more about the experience of emotionally sharing and bonding with friends and growing up along side them then it is about any kind of murder mystery. Could it have done more? Yeah, maybe, but it does what it's meant to do fantastically imo, if only cause it stays out of the way and let's P4's strengths shine through. As such, I'd ask what is it that Persona 5's core story was meant to do and/or say? And, more importantly, does it succeed at that? Most of all though, does it justify the core story being turned into such a central focus that is so omnipresent that even the confidants are all forced to interact with it? To be clear, the answer to that isn't as simple as 'yes' or 'no' imo, hence why I've talked about it for over 2 hours so far. I'll be giving my full answer in time, but I believe that's worth thinking on.

[@36inc]

futaba is my favorite part of persona 5 so Im interested in seeing why you think she breaks it

[@36inc]

Turns out it's because shes so good she breaks the rest of the game. I agree

[@Emil-Roma]

Man, I can´t wait for your take on delicious pancakes. I bet you think they´re sandwiches too.

[@CodexEntry]

Only when stacked on top of eachother with syrup/whip cream in the middle

[@jakepearce5827]

I always thought that Futaba had some kind of ASD, and with how her life spiralled so deeply, it isn't surprising. Just makes me love her character (me and my best friend have ASD and ADHD so i can relate a little bit to her reactions and interactions with everyday life). And yeah, Yusuke is the guy you don't quite understand, but that's kinda what makes him so adorable (and his quirkiness is actually really funny too).

[@sorenleigh3649]

Futaba is definitely the most relatable character of the cast at least to me. The dealing with really bad social anxiety, panic attacks, and not knowing how to speak with people "normally". My mom also died when I was a young adult so all the mom stuff REALLY hits for me. However I do not like dating her as Akira because from my understanding she seems to be our adoptive sister.

[@CTMoorse909]

Yay It's finally out!! Great work as usual man.

[@GeoffDoll]

Super curious about how Royal changed some of your opinions on this! I feel like it deffo rose to meet some of your expectations~

[@phantombroker6856]

I'm sorry, am I and the one other comment I saw that brought this up the only people who watched this video and remembered how the confidants start actively aiding the goals of the phantom thieves once they're complete, and even make the best efforts they can in all their cases to fight the system in the end? Like, that is a huge thing to overlook when saying that they're robbed of emotional growth. The entire point of them not being able to help themselves isn't meant to infantilize them or stunt their development, its to show them as victims who've resigned themselves to their fates. Your saving them isn't meant to reduce their agency, it's meant to snap them out of this mindset by showing that there are people out there who can challenge the system, and that they can too. I could even construe a version of this line of critique that frames Futaba overcoming her trauma as being essentially the same thing, just with Joker.

[@jonnysac77]

I sincerely thank you for the word "Cocksmith" I shall make great use of it

[@landis9767]

always thought she was the best character 💚

[@n543576]

Its interesting the social liknks you found interesting so far. I stand by as someone who wants to become an activist through institutional change that "No Good Tora" is by far one of the greatest character interactions I've ever had in Persona but i do enjoy your insight into characters I otherwise would handwave as just a boring character interaction.

[@LezCharming]

Your work is truly amazing,always leaves me thinking. Do I believe in saviors? I remember when I stopped waiting for them. But I also remember meeting them on my new road,and discovering them to be rebels.

[@0utskirtsOfNowhere]

I played Strikers pretty recently, and seeing how confident Futaba has gotten just really touched something in my soul. Like I'm not really sure how strikers writing compares to the original game because i am an unabashed fangirl and giddily played through the game with rose tinted glasses. But oh my god I'm just so proud of her, like there's no character I've wanted to tell they're doing a wonderful job as much as Futaba.

[@animewatcher102]

I actually wish they did more scenes mentioning how the palace rulers were like in the past like Madarame. That scene doesn't redeem him but shows that he didn't just become a monster overnight. It would have especially helped in Okumuras death. If they had shown any moment of Okumura having cared about Haru in the past it there would be more of a feeling of a loss of what could have been.

[@akiramoonborn6043]

if two people were on the moon and one killed the other with a rock would that be fucked up or what?

[@CodexEntry]

shit, now that you mention it, yeah

[@KuwabaraYuukio9784]

This video explains why she's best girl better than I ever could.

[@jondoe7036]

Only thing I take slight umbridge with Futaba's Confidant, is how the Mementos-request connected to it forces you to push its conclusion all the way after Okumura's dungeon and since it ties to the progression of the core narrative, you can't sidestep it even in New Game+. Artificially hindering confidant's complition to late game like that just felt really unneccessary.

[@cunkfucklyVEVO]

Finally, someone said it. This is the best part of the series so far, and this series has, up to this point, already been a phenomenal undertaking. You took some of the fundamental problems with Persona 5 that have been poking around in the back of my mind since the moment I finished it and put them into incredibly eloquent and straight-forward language that helped me understand both my own feelings and the game a lot better. I'm really looking forward to how you tackle the rest of the game. Watching this series has been incredibly engaging as well as cathartic for me, personally, as someone who has a lot of mixed feeling about this beautiful mess of a game.

[@welcometovalhalla2884]

So, after ignoring this series of videos for a long time (because holy shit they're long) I finally found some time to binge them and I gotta say I love them. The only thing I straight up think you're wrong about is Madarame's setup as a villain. Not his overall writing, just his setup as an actual piece of shit that deserves being dealt with from the get go. Some other things I disagree but I can see where you're coming from on basically everything. It's also very entertaining to watch and gives me a new perspective on a lot of things about the game. Right now I also wonder what do you think about the stuff we've seen of P5R so far? The first teaser trailer actually brings up the big problem you talk about at the end of the video. And while I was willing to ignore most of the problems with the game due to how amazing the overall package is, Joker just straight up solving people's problems without giving them the chance to grow and solve them by themselves is something that bugs me to this day (in most cases, stuff like Kana would've been unsolvable without his help, and I'd say that Takemi's arc, while not impossible for her to solve it, is too urgent for Joker to ignore) because it goes in such opposition to the main themes of the game and would've been so fucking easy to do right in most scenarios. I legit think (and hope) the only reason they did what they did with most Confidants is because, for some contrived reason, they wanted to have a formulaic mini boss at the end of each Confidant. I'm excited that they might solve this in Royal. Or at the very least that at some point the new girl will make Joker realize that the way he used his powers was a mistake.

[@futabagaming]

I'm sort of iffy on your interpretation that the message implied is "if you wait around people will solve your problems", which I can understand reading it like that in any other medium, but this is a video game, you're putting yourself in someone's shoes. You're playing as the person who goes in and changes peoples lives, rather than watching someone do that. I feel like if you factor that in, the message implied becomes less "problems will be solved for you" and more "if you try, you can solve problems"

[@propoppop9866]

Plus I think the royal will address this

[@todpolle]

These next tow parts are going to be interesting .

[@AJkingwing]

Looking back at this- Damn... Kasumi basically defined a lot of what you said with the scale problem.

[@ttamecco]

I grandather in luster candy to personas created through fusion, its nuts. must be a bug or something. Anyways, thanks for the vid. Its nice to get a good, detailed, positive/negative mix for this game

[@thejonbrownshow8470]

Love junes playing to the phantom thieves running from the pyramid lol

[@ttamecco]

just had a thought: when discussing the problem with focusing on the villains in these dungeons, an additional problem is that it shortchanges the characters on dramatic tension. In P4, progressing in a dungeon peels back the subject character until they are laid bare, and the question always hangs in the air: how does one reslove these problems? Also P3’s emphasis is less on plot and more on tone. but these villain’s characterization focuses more on how precisely cruel they are, which rarely ends up creating tension, just the desire to give them a comeuppance. And this game aint Tyranny, its portrayal of evil isnt the most interesting (or even the focus), and it only really gets close in a few places, like how Kamoshida’s a “big shot” who feels like he’s owed more and ends up a monster as a result... which is once again another reason that futaba is the best. She have gooood dramatic tension

[@petertromp8786]

I agree with so much of what you say here, and I still LOVE the game. That means some damn fine analysis on your part, because even through you're rightfully ragging on thematic consistencies within the game, your love for the product and for the franchise still comes through intact. I really appreciate your deep dive, but I have to say - as a foreigner myself - so much of the game's criticism of its themes that I've seen online comes from a purely American perspective. I think we need to understand the muddled-ness of it all through a Japanese context, and through a Persona context. The game's designers and writers are trying to get some progressive things across in a country that is not yet as progressive as the U.S. is, and on top of it they're trying to do so through the structures and mechanics that have defined Persona for more than two decades. I think it is to be expected that they'd be clunky in their handling of the myriad of issues they're trying to elucidate. They probably bit off more than they could chew, and I think having a team of writers (of varying talent) is always gonna result in certain patches not being as strong as others, You of course have every right to point out the ways in which the game often undoes its own good work, but I think we need to be just a tad more forgiving with how it all goes down in the game. For me personally, I am thankful that developers tried to fit some truly challenging subject matter into their game, even though the overall execution isn't quite there.

[@a.dykeman1980]

So... the trailer for P5R dropped... and god damn, the new female character, whoever she is, is basically making the same point this entire video builds up to. Also they showed footage from the Worst Ending, so...?

[@TheSuperchoas]

I thought god was lying to me when he said this video was coming out last night.

[@dannygodo7083]

Please please please. Another persona vid please.

[@Godwilla39]

Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy is a forgotten gem

[@thejonbrownshow8470]

Tho I doubt it, I hope royal atleast give the villians more screentime (it'd be intriguing even having them be upside down arcana or something for some darker confidants to see their character development especially for everyone outside of komashida), because I like most of the fights outside of okumara, but I wish we could have more personal fights like komashida and kinda madarame

[@jacobdrum97]

One of my favorite parts of Yusuke's Confidant is that the Jesus pose is more of an Orobas pose.

[@phenompy]

They say Makoto is the most popular romance option, but everywhere I look I only see Futaba in top rankings or let's player choosing Futaba as their waifu. I love both characters very much, but I think it's about time to say things as they are. This fandom has a little sister complex, lol.

[@DanielSantosAnalysis]

A lot I agreed with, a lot I disagreed with, but good video all the same.

[@nicobones9608]

Interesting... as you point out in this video, Joker solves a great many people's problems FOR them using his powers. Consider, then, the Holy Grail in this story. The Holy Grail exists because people want their problems solved for them. They want to be free of individual thought, and therefore cast their hopes, dreams, and fears upon the Holy Grail, thus making it powerful. In a lot of the best stories, the villain is the hero's worst flaw magnified many times over, and the hero's worst flaw is also often his greatest virtue. Joker wants to help people, and sometimes takes it too far, stepping into the realm of solving their problems for them rather than helping them to grow and realize things for themselves. As a Phantom Thief, he basks in the near-worship of the masses for his efforts. Again, not unlike the Holy Grail and/or Yaldabaoth.

[@cryguy0000]

Futaba and I have so much in common it's almost uncanny

[@ashleightompkins3200]

Judging from the title of the video, I really thought that you hated Futaba so when you said that she was the best character, I threw my hands up and punched the air because I was so relieved! She isn't my favourite character but she's definitely in the top five

[@jessicalaplant9306]

I just wish I looked like futaba...

[@rebirthpath6963]

HES BACK

[@saffronprod]

Still waiting on that Part 6 bby

[@nicobones9608]

If you like Egyptian levels, check out The Illusion of Gaia some time.

[@ammyshadows3817]

Woah woah woah there! How Bayonetta would break down if 9s was in its cast? I'd love to hear that story.

[@CodexEntry]

He'd ask to many logical questions, a lot of the things taken for granted would fall apart, everything would spiral out of control, prbly try to kill jeane

[@kennethforman5265]

Dude, thats my complaint about Haru. She just sat around drinking coffee until other people fixed her problems for her. she didn't do a god damn thing. people might say "shes so late in the game." everyone gets ten days, ten confidante missions to solve a problem in their life. she spent 9 of them drinking coffee while getting sexually harassed and manipulated. #futababestgirl

[@AdachiCabbage]

Compared to everyone else she is late in the game. Naoto had more growth than both Haru and Akechi Goro for that matter and better characterization.

[@kennethforman5265]

Im conplaining she doesnt do anything. saying she comes in late in the game to defend her is no excuse. you only need a few good moments. she had no good moments.

[@AdachiCabbage]

Some people would protest that Palace 5 and her mementos comments are her good moments. The problem is like Akechi, there is little to no character growth. P5 suffers from bad characterization on all fronts.

[@kennethforman5265]

@@AdachiCabbage those "some" people are wrong, Bobby Bouje'. To be honest, I really have no problem from the game. It's an anime game, it was fun. Im playing highschool kid that everyone wants to fuck or fight, I'm not pretentious and think everything has to be a statement or message. thats coming from a professional artist, thats saying alot. I just think Haru drank too much coffee

[@gerardopaz4383]

I loved your analysis on the social links but I heavily disagree with your statement about how the Phantom Thieves do not help people rebel against society. At rank 10 each confidant becomes a full blown accomplice of the Phantom Thieves,. You're not just buying guns from Iwai, he's cutting into his bottom line by offering huge discounts and giving you special modifications for the sole fact to help the phantom thieves. Takemi is breaking hospital norms by giving you medicines not meant for the general public as is working as the medic for the Phantom Thieves. Yoshida launches a new campaign using the values of the Phantom Thieves and incorporating them into his platform. All these characters are not just content with being saved, they're passing on their lessons, helping the masses and serve as the support structure to the phantom thieves. Then you have the end game where the characters are actively resisting the forces of the big overwhelming evil and climaxing with a gigantic act of rebellion as they each work within their networks and institutions to rebel against a huge act of misjustice.. I just am confused as to how you arrived to the conclusion that we have denied these characters a chance to rebel against the system when they serve as active participants in the overall rebellion that the Phantom Thieves engage in.

[@CodexEntry]

But they don't rebel int their OWN stories, and that's my main point. P3 and 4, the social links were chances to reinforce the core themes that come into play in the main story. You see the elderly couple deal with the death of their sun, you see Ai learn to more healthily channel her need for attention as she becomes a complete person, etc. These stories, historically, have existed to back up the game's core ideas WITHIN it's own narrative, and not many here do that because we come along and fix everything for them. I like Tae, but when does she rebel in her story? At what rank does she do it? The closest is her illegally selling us medicine, something that she did and would continue to do even if we never talked to her as a confidant again. Same with Iwai's gun mods. They're illegal from the git go, he's just more willing to help us out and, given that his business seems to be fine, that's not a really big give on his part. Likewise, them helping you out is rarely framed as 'I'd love to help the phantom thieves stick it to the world!' and much more often phrase like 'I know your secret, and it's safe with me. I'll help you out how I can.' Plus, it's worth noting that not all of them DO actively help you out. After reaching rank 10 there's literally no mechanical reason to ever talk to Hifumi, Yoshida, Ohya, or Oda ever again. And all the previous social links ALSO help you in your final moments of each game. And just like there, here it's only really used as emotional support rather than anything concrete. Broadly speaking, it's basically just as easy to beat the final boss with all confidants as it is with none. You'll have some definite advantages to be sure, but most of those are are a result of the connects you've formed with party members. Outside of them, they might provide you a slight number increase, but nothing that make situations WAY easier. The closest is Hifumi with party member swapping, but, like...I am not giving her that. As I've said before, that's closer to a flaw than anything, should have been part of the core tool set. Point is though that even if we count that as a rebellion, it's still an incredibly weak, ineffectual one that we don't really need to complete our job, nor shows us anything significant about the characters in question, nor does it do anything to restore their agency as characters after we took it from them to solve their problems. In comparison to Persona 3/4, it's some sloppy writing.

[@GForce4]

Iwai: "My guns are being used to take down the bad guys" Tae: "The Phantom Thieves Save people in need, just like doctors do" Shinya: "Now I can help my mom, my friends and people I don't know. Will that help me become a member of the Phantom Thieves" Hifumi: "If there's anything I can do to help, let me know" The confidants range from being accomplices (Iwai, Tae, Sojiro) to abiding criminals and with holding information on group of criminals. All these people are putting themselves at risk for legal action. >here it's only really used as emotional support rather than anything concrete We're also ignoring the final cutscenes with each individual which shows each character rebelling against the system and their previous circumstances to free you from prison. Iwai, who saw his previous life as a Yakuza as a burden and wanted to distance himself from it, now uses it to keep you safe in jail. Tae, who was known as the shady doctor and an outcast in the medical world is now risking her new prestige and shiny new reputation to go to bat for a convicted criminal. Sadayo had a poor reputation as a teacher among her peers and students. Now we see her rallying her peers who have looked down on her to support a student that they all previously looked down upon in poor favor. Each and every one of these confidants are using their jobs, social status and connections to try to get you out of jail and some of them going against the law (Sojiro) to get you out, This isn't people going "hang in there" these are people fighting against the legal system and risking their own reputations to get you pardoned. How is the above not concrete. How are the selected quotes of the characters showing their desire the help the Phantom Thieves as a unit?

[@GForce4]

This theory or Rebellion is best exemplified by turning these group of confidants of strays that help morph the Phantom Thieves from a group of rebels to a collective. You see this theory talked a lot by leftist KZbin such as Peter Coffin and Philosophy Tube where they talk about the strength of forming collections based off of venerability to build solidarity. Such principals talk about how people need to overcome their shame of admitting weakness but through opening themselves up they become more open to change and wish to change the status quo through empathy. Sound familiar? kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHrbpGmse66fhNk journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004594

[@bgbss680]

I definitely appreciate your analysis of this work but I can't help and disagree with a lot of your points, it feels more like a lot of things went over your head or you willfully berating them for not being what you wanted/expected etc. Regardless it seems you put a lot of effort into this and I appreciate your take on the piece even if I can't agree with a lot of the video.

[@Morden97]

While I agree that the whole rebellion theme is a bit underplayed, you don't mention in your arguments that the whole "power of friendship" theme is a huge deal in P5. Basically, rebellion can be supported or led by someone who isn't necessary yourself.

[@KingCalero]

I found Makoto's confidant is really interesting because it really reflects on Makoto herself as a character. The entire arc is at face value about Makoto learning to accept others and learn what she wants to do in life when in reality that's all a facade and the story is about Makoto learning to not put up constant facades of her own and be honest with herself about what she wants in life. A good example of this is the very first link with her where you "help her break out of her shell" by suggesting to go to the arcade with her to help a sheltered girl become more social. At first glance it seems simple but when further examining it it becomes very obvious that Makoto is just manipulating you because she wants to go out to the arcade with you while keeping up the appearance of this sheltered educated class president since that is what she assumes you want her to appear to be. Throughout the entire link she does this where she attempts to meet others expectations of what she should be while subtly and subconsciously showing how she really feels about the situation. By the end she learns to accept how she truly feels and enact upon it without worrying what others expect her actions to be which shows a lot of character growth. Her wanting to become a police commissioner is not about her figuring out her life but rather her learning to make decisions for herself and forge her own path without having to put up a facade to meet others expectations of what she should be. It's also what makes her parallel with Eiko interesting since Makoto is envious of her since Eiko has no difficulty at all at expressing how she feels at any given time and does not worry about how others view her since she assumes nobody cares about her. In fact, Eiko desires people to focus on her and set a path for her which is the exact opposite of Makoto's problem. Anyway, point is what makes Makoto's confidant really enjoyable is that it requires you to actually put some thought into it instead of it just being blatantly handed to you. It also doesn't have the problem most of the other social links have of you just magically fixing their problems. Alternatively this is why I think Futaba's is fairly mediocre. Not because the story itself is bad, it's just so mind-numbingly straight forward that it requires little to no thought to understand which lowers the overall experience for me. On the plus side it does have some of the most comedic moments in the game and Futaba herself is a really endearing character. I just really wish there was more to it then there is. I also heavily agree with you that the majority of the confidants end up being weak because you just magically fix everyone's problems. It detracts from the characters growth and is often and unnecessary use of power when the situation does not even remotely call for it. The formulaic nature of the social links makes many of them blend together regardless of how weak or strong the characters and story might be written. There's a big difference between having an overarching theme to the social links and having them all follow the same step by step formula. I guess I'm just upset that many of these social links could have been way better if they had just bothered to make them more unique.

[@KingCalero]

@Devenn Eng Makoto's arc was never about her learning to understand her peers better though. The entire point is that she is learning to express herself as a person without yielding to the demands of what others expect her to be. Additionally, attempting to look out for your peers is not really a bad trait regardless of what you may believe. Makoto even questions within the arc if she is doing the right thing since she is impeding on how Eiko wants to live her life even if she is doing it for her sake. The answer she comes up with is that protecting her friends and schoolmates is how Makoto wants to live HER life thus leading her to her growth. Makoto also only plays authority figure because that is exactly what she is expected to do which once again leads to the overarching theme of this entire social link. You seem to expect this social link to be about Makoto learning to be a leader when it's simply about Makoto growing as a person. If you only look at the surface level of the social link and attempt to nitpick it you'll never understand it or her character. Futaba's confidant is mediocre because it's very basic and formulaic and adds little to nothing to her character that we didn't already have. It just goes slightly more in depth about her mental disabilities and her treasuring her bonds. Her growth in the arc is minor and even reverts some of her growth in the main game so they can reuse it for her social link. As you said though, Futaba has by far the most time spent on her character in the entire game. You get essentially 15 social links with her, an entire arc about specifically her, and even has several weeks after her arc dedicated to her. All of this screentime and prominence leads to her having little room for further character growth which is probably why her social link is so basic and retreads old ground. I'd say Haru's and Yusuke's were above average while MIshima's was great. Neither Haru nor Yusuke's social links were incredibly innovative but the stories were solid and the characters did grow within them. I feel a lot of what makes Haru's social link stand out though is she actually gets some screen time, relevance, and development unlike in the main story. This makes her seem like she's getting a lot more development then she is because she was essentially kind of a blank slate before. Her social link is essentially just what Makoto's was pretending to be at the start too. A naive girl learns about interacting with the world while having her expectations subverted which allows her to grow as a person. It's a good story, but it's pretty predictable. I do hope that if they ever make an expanded version of the game redo how many of the social links resolve and expand on a lot of characters roles who were sidelined. If they are going to be bother having a large cast they should make sure everyone gets prominence and not just focus on a handful of characters. It makes so many of them feel underdeveloped when they could have been so much more.

[@morganraine9208]

I get how this is small compared to the point you made about futaba's confidant arc, but can we talk about how FUCKED UP THE RESOLUTION IS? The phantom thieves change the parents hearts and they say "Now we'll be good parents who loves our child!" when they should BE IN JAIL FOR YEARS OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND MAKING PEDOPHILE SHIT?!

[@CodexEntry]

Cesar Weizegger yeahhhhhhhh

[@aneonfoxtribute]

Nah, they're probably gonna turn themselves in.

[@morganraine9208]

aneonfoxtribute But the thing is the thieves didn stick around to confirm that. They just dusted off their hands and said "Thats the end of that chapter!" and left.

[@aneonfoxtribute]

@@morganraine9208 They don't NEED to confirm it, because it's almost definitely going to happen. They've seen what happens with their regular targets and almost certainly they'd have heard what happened with their Mementos targets. I'm damn sure that Futaba actually WOULD check up on it.

[@morganraine9208]

aneonfoxtribute But we never see or hear about it again and thats the issue. We just assume they make up with their daughter and that whole sexing her on camera as her job instead of being a student is over now.

[@Yamartim]

YESSS

[@speedm222]

A really great vid, although the point you brought at the end is really solid, it’s not making me like the game less than I did before. But I do have to agree that the next arc is really flawed (and headache inducing...)

[@CodexEntry]

No worries on that, I'm not here to tell anyone they're wrong or right for liking it. If you enjoy it, cool, if you don't, also cool. I'm just interested in picking it apart, seeing what does(n't) work and examining why.

[@AntiNihilist]

Maybe I missed something but HOW did Yusuke blackmail Ann??? I could've sworn she voluntarily said she'd help him only because of her hidden goal and no other reason...

[@CodexEntry]

'Strip for me so I can paint you or I will sue your friends for trespassing including your friend who's on probation.' This is unironically more or less what Yusuke says. I recommend rewatching the footage for 5/17 in game. Technically SHE isn't getting blackmailed, we are, but, like, come on, what's she going to do, let the protag go to jail for a non-crime? But Ann clearly doesn't want to do it, she asks repeatedly if she really has to do it and tries to find a reason not to do it, and though the game may treat it like it's hilarious, it's really fucked up when you step back and realize that it's ultimately a recent sexual assault victim being blackmailed using the wellbeing of her friends, *again*.

[@symphonyofaria]

I don't agree with everything... But "We are the phantom thieves of this world and we steal their emotional growth" is pretty funny!

[@jdsyke]

Please, sir. May I have another...

[@kjriwoutube]

I never saw it coming

[@nicobones9608]

Futaba is best girl! But, I'm noticing a weird theme these in video game reviews days. Persona 5 is the first Persona game I've played, and I absolutely loved it. However, it seems like Persona fans who have reviewed it didn't like it. Similarly, the first Fallout game I played was Fallout 3, which I loved (and Fallout 4 even more so), but people who'd been playing the Fallout games since the beginning hated it. The first Elder Scrolls game I played was Oblivion, and I liked both that and Skyrim (though, admittedly, liked Skyrim less), but people who've been playing the Elder Scrolls since Morrowind or sooner have generally given Skyrim a bad review, from what I've heart. The first Assassin's Creed game I played was Assassin's Creed 3, but fans... well, you get the idea. It's just kind of strange to me.

[@fagitocumaeda]

I personally think Sae’s arc is the best but that may just be me

[@fagitocumaeda]

kind of biased, i do love akechi lol But i do genuinely think its amazing

[@dasfaodfadsfanfklawe]

futaba = inkling

[@Julius_Strife]

Everything spoken here is correct

[@welcometomylives]

I heavily disliked Makoto's confidant. It just felt too much like an Eiko confident, and not enough like Makoto's one.

[@LTDLetsPlays]

26:06 incorrect! she didnt commit suicide she was suffering from something if madarame helped her she would be alive because he didnt do anything during that moment she died at that moment

[@jondoe7036]

Yusuke's mom didn't, but one of his recent pupils did. Nakanohara tells about it to Phantom Thieves in the beginning of Yusuke and Madarame's story-arc.

[@CodexEntry]

Yeah, what Jon said. Though I do regret not bringing up the fact that he could easily be charged with Negligent Homicide too. All the more reason it was a waste of time to try and humanize him in the 11th hour.

[@foreignerhill]

Hearing about the problem with the protagonist robbing characters of growth, essentially devolving into "Don't take action, someone else will" makes me want to hear about your take on the new and final arc P5R introduced. Spoilers... Spoilers: with Maruki's social link, reality and palace, and the "third semester."

[@bigtimetimmyjim6486]

Futaba is not too good for this game, not even close. In fact, as someone who appreciates it when media tries to bring mental health issues to light in a respectful manner, I cannot even say that I consider her to be a positive highlight among a relatively weak cast of characters. I am deeply conflicted about Futaba's arc and portrayal in this game, and while I do agree that she has some great moments and true presence in the game's overall plot and themes, there are aspects of her character that I find to very difficult to rationalize. I can overlook how she is portrayed as a "nerd" who speaks in a stereotypical manner who has "hacking" skills to solve any situation that the plot demands; to me, this is a minor nitpick that some people will blow out of proportion simply because they subjectively dislike these tropes and/or fail to recognize that Futaba's strengths are balanced by a set of glaring weaknesses. However, I cannot overlook the reductionist portrayal of mental illness as not only something that easily "goes away" or can be "fully overcome", but also having clear causes that can be pinpointed and neutralized. Yes, I know this is a game, but Futaba's portrayal of suicidal torment is far too "real" for these mistakes to be made in character development. To contrast, I think FE3H's Bernadetta's portrayal of crippling anxiety leading to isolation is done far, far better, both in terms of setup as well as learning to cope with it.

[@1groovigyrl]

I know this is not the best place to ask a question like this but to codex entry I just want to say that the creation of p5r worries me as the MAIN ISSUE that you had in this video was how the Justice that the phantom thieves had was actually hurting others and how it is a hypocritical way of rebellion. Guess who else has that issue.......kazumi So NOW it feels like kasumi was SUPPOSED to be in the original p5 but was cut (most likely due to how long it was taking but what do it know) and that NOW YEARS LATER they decided that her absence was soooooooo damaging to the game that they wanted to fix it. Either that or (and this is what really worries me) they cut it so that they could INTENTIONALLY leave for a p5Rerelease. But at the same time I don’t think that’s quite it so I wanted to hear your opinion (either as a reply or another video)

[@launchbase4944]

we really don't know much about her to make this statement yet

[@kurtdelarosa6151]

Codex, I’m still waiting for you to rip Pancake Boy (Akechi) a new one. His motives are completely petty to the point where if he and another person have similar goals, he’d kill that other person to beat them to the punch, just because they would take away his validity. Joker is a true gentleman thief. Akechi is just a wannabe.

[@tenlosol]

I'm s r ture it's just me but I was never huge on futaba mostly cause I think I didn't play the game till close to when royal was coming out and the internet by that point had crowned her best thing ever. Like I like her palace a d I like her story but I just can't with her confidant to the point I was putting it off till someone told me how good it actually is and how it pretty much breaks the game.

[@jonnysac77]

My god you just nailed why I don't like this game, I never liked this game but I could never put my finger on why but your point about how this game betrays its core theme multiple times showed me

[@propoppop9866]

Medjed was unimportant in my mind if they do their crimes so what keep stealing dem hearts and show em it’s their climes

[@TRONgirl_EXE]

I like Futaba too, but I’m more interested in her in-game mechanics

[@sofaris576]

I like Futaba as a Character but I found what she brings to the table as navigator in gameplay is not that great. Yes here abilltys are powerful but to random to rely on. The only really good abillty is here rank 10 abillty. But its a failsave I would avoid using up and want to save fore latter so. I am in my first playthrough in Persona Q Shadow of the Labyrith and Fuuka is way more reliable than Futaba. That is becuse I can give here directly orders and here abilltys are restricted by a meter I build up over time. She is there fore me when I need here. She also has useful passive abilltys like Life Aid and Path of Light that will always trigger and dont require the meter. I found that so much better than Futabas random buffs.

[@nicobones9608]

See, though, when you talk about Yusuke blackmailing Ann you fail to mention that it was not because he wanted her sexually (he explicitly states that he does not), but rather because he thinks she'd make a great subject for his paintings. He looks at her as art, not a sex object. Granted, it's not as if that makes it ok, but it's still different from Kamoshida. And I will definitely grant you that Joker and Ryuuji's reactions to the situation are all wrong, 100%. I got the feeling that Yusuke was, more or less, asexual, looking at the world through the lens of art and aesthetics rather than desires. On the beach, while the other guys are checking out women in swimsuits, Yusuke goes and finds lobsters for dinner.

[@CodexEntry]

True, that is a reading of Yusuke I share, and that does (debatably) reduce the grossness to some extent. But you also said it yourself, it doesn't make it okay. I'd argue that the act of exploitation by blackmail of something as personal as another person's body is offensive enough on it's own, regardless of whether or not the reasoning was motivated by lust.